Big Cartel and Etsy are two of the best-selling platforms for handmade and creative goods. But which one is better? That is a hard question for artists, designers, or anyone who wants to sell on marketplaces. In this article, we will evaluate Big Cartel vs Etsy to determine which service better suits your business needs. Specifically, we will explore:
- Overview of Big Cartel and Etsy
- Key differences between Etsy vs Big Cartel
- Is Etsy better than Big Cartel?
By the end, you’ll clearly understand how these platforms are different. This will help you confidently decide where to grow your craft business!
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Etsy vs Big Cartel: An Overview
In this part, we’ll give you a brief overview of Big Cartel vs Etsy, including their origins, business models, and current size.
You might also want to read about Etsy vs Own Website or Etsy vs eBay since so many sellers like you are there!
Background
Let’s take a closer look at the origins and founding histories of both Etsy and Big Cartel to gain insight into their initial goals and focus.
Etsy background
Etsy was launched in 2005 by a small team passionate about supporting creative entrepreneurs and preserving craftsmanship. They noticed a chance for artists and craftspeople to sell their one-of-a-kind handmade items online and connect with people worldwide.
Initially, Etsy began as a place to buy craft materials, but it quickly grew into a hub for buying and selling handmade goods. It became the go-to spot for unique, rare handcrafted items in just a few years.
Big Cartel background
Big Cartel was founded four years later, in 2009, by designers who understood the challenges independent creatives faced in establishing their brands online. They wanted to create a platform just for artists and designers.
Big Cartel not only lets you sell things, but it also puts a big focus on making your shop look unique and expressive so you can show off your own style. This allowed creative professionals more control over crafting their online identities from the ground up.
Business Models
Etsy and Big Cartel employ different approaches to how artists sell their products and make a profit.
Etsy business models
On Etsy, most sellers operate independently, keeping the full profits from every sale. Yet, Etsy goes even further. They have wholesale programs that let top artisans sell their products directly to big retailers. This means the potential for much higher sales. Etsy takes a small percentage of every transaction to maintain the marketplace.
Big Cartel business models
In contrast, Big Cartel’s model centers around affordable monthly or annual fees for sellers. By paying these costs, you will gain full ownership and revenues from your stores. What’s more, you can even customize your shop using Big Cartel’s free themes, creating the unique look and feel of your store.
While simpler than Etsy’s hybrid approach, this allows maximum flexibility and profit retention. It also means Big Cartel sellers handle business development and sales generation themselves without additional wholesale support.
Size and Scale
Both platforms have grown significantly since launch, but there are some key differences in their current sizes.
Etsy size and scale
Through a relentless focus on its mission, Etsy has grown into a true creative economy of its own. According to Etsy Press, there are currently 8.3 million active sellers in most countries, offering more than 100 million unique handmade items.
This vast network has solidified Etsy as the preeminent global destination for specialty purchases and gifts. It has grown far beyond its original craft supply roots.
Big Cartel size and scale
While still growing, Big Cartel has maintained its smaller-scale emphasis on independent creatives and designers. It does not publicly report user numbers but claims hundreds of thousands of active stores. This size allows for a more tight-knit community feel and personalized support that may better suit some solopreneurs and niche artists.
While Etsy has grown to become a larger platform over time, both sites aim to empower creative entrepreneurs with online storefronts. In the next section, we will outline some key differences between Big Cartel vs Etsy to consider for your business needs.
Big Cartel Vs Etsy: What are Differences?
When deciding between Big Cartel or Etsy for selling your art and crafts, it’s important to understand how these platforms differ in key areas that impact your business.
Let’s have an in-depth look at the major variances between the two.
Pricing models & fees
Both marketplaces charge sellers fees but employ distinct pricing structures. Here’s the detailed cost of Big Cartel vs Etsy:
Big Cartel fees
Big Cartel keeps plans simple and affordable, with 3 different plans for your choice. You can even start free with 5 products, pay $9.99/month (for 50 products), or only $19.99/month (up to 500 products). Moreover, there are no listing fees for all three plans.
Etsy fees
Meanwhile, Etsy charges $0.20 for the listing fees, which are active for only 4 months. In addition, when your shop has a sale, you have to pay an additional 6.5% transaction fee plus 4% + $0.32 payment processing fee. While small individually, these transaction fees can amount significantly for high-volume Etsy shops.
Sales & product features
Now let’s look more closely at the differences between Big Cartel vs Etsy’s sales potential and product features.
Big Cartel sales & product features
Big Cartel – one of the biggest Etsy competitors– makes it simple for you to create your store and sell your products. So, it keeps costs low. Simply choose an affordable monthly plan that works for you – whether just starting out or a larger store. You’ll keep all sales with no hidden fees or commissions.
However, individual stores may find it challenging to reach buyers at the same scale as Etsy without its huge centralized user base.
Etsy sales & product features
In contrast, Etsy works as a marketplace connecting sellers and buyers all over the world. Everything you list for sale on Etsy must be handmade by you, vintage, or a craft supply. They must also follow the Prohibited Items Policy. This ensures your customers can find special, artisanal creations while you retain creative control over your offerings.
While conforming to Etsy guidelines, you’ll benefit from exposure to a massive customer pool.
Store customization
When it comes to customizing your online presence, Big Cartel is far more flexible than Etsy at some point.
Big Cartel store customization
In particular, Big Cartel permits fully customized storefronts through HTML and CSS coding, ideal for uniquely branded experiences. Therefore, it tends to be the better fit for artists, designers, and niche/independent sellers.
Etsy store customization
In contrast, customization options are more limited on Etsy. Sellers pick from a set of pre-designed shop templates and themes. While standardized Etsy shops are easy to use, highly specialized design visions may be difficult to achieve within Etsy’s constraints.
Marketing & sales tools
Both Big Cartel vs Etsy provide tools to help sellers promote their products, but they differ in their approaches.
Big Cartel marketing & sales tools
Big Cartel is a platform that helps you build your own unique online store and sell your items. It also provides you with the necessary tools to promote your shop. You can find all features, like managing stores, order fulfillment, running promotions, etc., right on your laptop or phone.
Besides, Big Cartel provides apps and integrations, extensions to help you get the most out of your store. However, you must primarily promote through other off-site channels since Big Cartel stores lack the large centralized user base of Etsy.
Etsy marketing & sales tools
Conversely, Etsy provides powerful tools to build your brand and reach more shoppers. Grow your following easily across social media with optimized posting content. Besides, boost visibility on Etsy through promoted listings that appear in searches. You can also advertise your products off Etsy on sites like Google and Facebook.
You can even boost your sales on Etsy using LitCommerce’s Etsy integration. It helps you connect your Etsy store with other platforms to maximize potential income. Feel free to contact us if you need help with installation.
Community & support
Both platforms offer communities for sellers, but their structures vary.
Big Cartel community & support
The Big Cartel is a smaller platform compared to Etsy marketplace. Therefore, their community is not as large and active as Etsy’s. In general, you can find help by contacting Big Cartel’s support team via email. Besides, you can find other detailed guides on their Blog.
Etsy community & support
As the larger marketplace, Etsy has amassed a huge global community through forums and groups. You can reach their support staff by requesting a phone call or email. Etsy also offers Seller Handbooks and Newsletter to provide you with tips for improving your store.
Nevertheless, response times from official Etsy support can be less consistent than on Big Cartel due to the greater volume of users.
While Big Cartel and Etsy both offer options for online selling, they differ significantly in areas like fees, customization, tools, and community support. Therefore, it’s crucial for you to find the right balance of flexibility, costs, and sales potential.
Here is a more concise table comparing the key differences between Big Cartel vs Etsy:
Criteria | Big Cartel | Etsy |
Pricing | Simple monthly or annual plans starting at $9.99/month. No additional fees. | Variable fees per sale and listings that can accumulate for high-volume shops. |
Sales | Emphasis on custom storefronts.Keep 100% profits but harder to reach buyers. | Powerful discovery tools drive sales from a huge user base through the organization. |
Customization | Full HTML/CSS store customization for unique branding. | Limited to templates and themes, specialized designs are difficult. |
Marketing | Basic built-in tools Rely on off-site efforts due to a smaller user base. | Leverages algorithms to match listings to buyers in the large marketplace. |
Community | Engaged artist community but smaller scale. | Huge global user base via forums and groupsSupport response varies. |
Best fit | High customization needs and flexible pricing. | Maximize accessible sales from a large customer pool. |
In the next part, we’ll provide you with some key considerations to help you determine which provides the best fit for your unique situation.
Selling on Etsy vs Big Cartel: Seller Considerations
Etsy and Big Cartel differ in key ways that impact your business. Understanding these differences can aid in deciding which platform aligns best with your goals.
Business Goals
Etsy is ideal for generating a high volume of sales through its massive marketplace. Over $13.3 billion of annual gross sales in 2022 with millions of active buyers. However, standardized product categories and 6.5% transaction fees mean it favors those seeking sales quantity.
In contrast, Big Cartel prioritizes creative control and customization. It allows the presentation of niche products and branding in a unique style without additional listing costs. Therefore, Big Cartel is better suited to artisans focused more on sales quality than quantity.
Product Type
Etsy shoppers expect handmade, vintage, or craft supplies. Mass-produced items are prohibited. Big Cartel, on the other hand, welcomes all types of creative works and merchandise. It offers flexibility for those with non-traditional artwork, digital products, or other goods that might not fit into Etsy’s limited catalogs. Etsy works best for traditional artisans, while Big Cartel is more accommodating of varied product lines.
Seller Experience
Etsy simplifies the selling process through its established marketplace interface and centralized customer support. However, you may surrender some control and pay higher percentages in the long term.
Big Cartel demands self-sufficiency through independent store management and marketing. But fees are lower and creative freedom greater. Novice sellers may prefer Etsy’s streamlined model, whereas experienced entrepreneurs could gain more from Big Cartel’s independence.
So, Etsy vs. Big Cartel for artists, which is better? Check out the table of pros and cons on selling on Big Cartel vs Etsy:
Platform | Pros | Cons |
Big Cartel | - Low monthly/annual fees | - Requires own marketing/promotionSmaller user base |
Etsy | - Enormous built-in audienceEstablished selling systems | - Standardized categories |
Big Cartel or Etsy – FAQs
- Is Big Cartel Better than Etsy?
Big Cartel typically suits artists and designers better due to its highly customizable templates that allow full creative control over storefronts and branding. Etsy is generally a better option for craftspeople and sellers of traditional handmade goods thanks to its large, engaged customer base in those categories, which can lead to faster sales. Overall, you should consider their unique product type and business goals to determine the best platform.
- Can I sell on both Big Cartel and Etsy?
Yes, sellers can utilize both platforms simultaneously. Having multiple sales channels can help expand your business’s audience reach and online presence. However, you need to carefully manage inventory levels and listings between the sites to avoid confusion.
- How many products can you sell on Big Cartel?
Big Cartel’s basic plan (gold) allows for selling 5 products only. However, you can add 50 products if you use a platinum plan and 500 products for the diamond plan.
Big Cartel vs Etsy: Which is Better for Your Business?
In conclusion, choosing between Big Cartel vs Etsy depends on your business goals, selling experience, and the type of product you want to sell. If you’re looking for a platform that allows for high customization and flexible pricing, Big Cartel may be the better fit.
On the other hand, if you’re seeking to maximize accessible sales and exposure to a large customer pool, Etsy’s powerful discovery tools and massive user base may be the better option.
Ready to take your business on Etsy and Big Cartel to the next level? Contact us today to see how our powerful multichannel solutions can help.
And be sure to check out our blog and Facebook Group for even more valuable insights and tips from successful artists like you.
